Implant with sensor assembly

Abstract

An implant (in particular a stent) includes a main structure and a sensor assembly for measuring a body parameter. The sensor assembly includes at least one electrical conductor and at least one capacitor which are connected in such a way that the conductor and the capacitor form at least one electrical resonant circuit. The electrical conductor is surrounded by an electrical insulation. The electrical conductor is in the form of a coil having at least one turn. The capacitor is in contact at least on one side with the surrounding environment and its capacitance changes depending on the body parameter that is to be determined.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An implant, comprising:
 a main structure formed by a plurality of struts and free spaces formed between said plurality of struts; 
 a sensor assembly for measuring a body parameter, said sensor assembly including at least one electrical conductor and at least one capacitor; 
 said at least one electrical conductor and said at least one capacitor being connected to form at least one electrical resonant circuit; 
 said at least one electrical conductor being a coil having at least one turn; 
 said coil disposed in a cavity or recess of one or more of said plurality of struts, and said at least one capacitor being mounted directly on, or integrated into, one or more of said plurality of struts; 
 said at least one capacitor being in contact at least on one side with a surrounding environment and having a capacitance changing in dependence on the body parameter to be determined; and 
 said electrical conductor being insulated with respect to at least one of the implant or another electrical conductor. 
 
     
     
       2. The implant according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one electrical conductor has a plurality of individual turns, and said individual turns are disposed at least one of side by side or one above another. 
     
     
       3. The implant according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensor assembly includes at least two resonant circuits being electrically and physically separated from one another, said at least two resonant circuits having different inherent frequencies. 
     
     
       4. An implant, comprising:
 a main structure formed by a plurality of struts and at least one free space formed between said plurality of struts; 
 a sensor assembly for measuring a body parameter, said sensor assembly including at least one electrical conductor and at least one capacitor; 
 said at least one electrical conductor and said at least one capacitor being connected to form at least one electrical resonant circuit; 
 said at least one electrical conductor being a coil having at least one turn; 
 said capacitor being mounted directly on, or integrated into, at least one of said plurality of struts, with said coil being disposed in a cavity or recess of said plurality of struts surrounding said at least one free space formed between said plurality of struts; 
 said at least one capacitor being in contact at least on one side with a surrounding environment and having a capacitance changing in dependence on the body parameter to be determined; and 
 said electrical conductor being insulated with respect to at least one of the implant or another electrical conductor. 
 
     
     
       5. An implant, comprising:
 a main structure formed by a plurality of struts and free spaces formed between said plurality of struts; 
 a sensor assembly for measuring a body parameter, said sensor assembly including at least one electrical conductor and at least one capacitor; 
 said at least one electrical conductor and said at least one capacitor being connected to form at least one electrical resonant circuit; 
 said at least one electrical conductor being a coil having at least one turn; 
 said coil and said at least one capacitor being mounted directly on, or integrated into, one or more of said plurality of struts; 
 said at least one capacitor being in contact at least on one side with a surrounding environment and having a capacitance changing in dependence on the body parameter to be determined; 
 said electrical conductor being insulated with respect to at least one of the implant or another electrical conductor; and 
 wherein said sensor assembly includes at least two resonant circuits disposed in series. 
 
     
     
       6. The implant according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least two resonant circuits differ with respect to a spatial orientation of said coils of said resonant circuits. 
     
     
       7. The implant according to  claim 5 , wherein the implant is formed as an intraluminal endoprosthesis experiencing endothelialization, and at least one of the endothelialization, blood parameters or active substance concentrations in at least one of the blood or tissue are measured as the body parameter. 
     
     
       8. The implant according to  claim 7 , wherein the intraluminal endoprosthesis is as a stent. 
     
     
       9. The implant according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least two resonant circuits are distributed over a periphery of the implant and are disposed in series. 
     
     
       10. The implant according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least two resonant circuits are electrically and physically separated from one another with respect to a longitudinal axis of the implant.